Aberdeen’s Best Curry Awards winners revealed

Aberdeen’s Best Curry Awards returned last night with some hot competition crowned the best in the North-east.

A total of 350 people packed out the event at the city’s Hilton Double Tree to find out who could boast the region’s best curries.

Presented by the BBC’s Fiona Stalker, the ceremony saw 16 gongs handed out – with new additions for Chinese and Thai food.

One of the biggest winners of the night was Rajpoot, of Inverurie.

The eatery landed Overall Best Restaurant in Aberdeen City and Shire and Best Indian Restaurant in Aberdeenshire.

The team behind double winner Rajpoot, from Inverurie.

Noor Ahmed, from Rajpoot, said: “I’m feeling on top of the world to be honest. Really happy to be winning the best restaurant in Aberdeenshire and then overall – beating everybody, it’s a dream come true.”

The Chef of the Year Award went to Abdul Hamid from Indian on the Green, in Ballater.

Abdul Hamid with his daughters, from left, Bushra, Hazera, Kolsuma, Jamila and Maryam.

He said: “Chef of the year is the biggest honour of my career.

“I’ve been competing in Aberdeen Curry Awards the last three times and came as the winner third time lucky.”

Presented by former council leader Barney Crockett, the prize went to Syed Abdur Razzak who opened Light of Bengal in the city in the late 1970s.

Syed Abdur Razzak with Adam Maaruf, 1.

He said: “I’m honoured to received this award. It has come as a huge surprise for me as I was invited to just be a guest.

“I’m pleased to see the curry industry has grown so far.

“In the years since I came to Aberdeen to open Light of Bengal in 1978, since then it has grown so much over the North-east.

Best Thai Takeaway in Aberdeen City and Shire went to Sabai, Inverurie, while Best Chinese in Aberdeen City and Shire went to Panda Valley in Rosemount.

Best Thai Takeaway in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, Sabai, Inverurie. Pictured are from left, Kaz Rashed and Petcharat Tumrongwongvilai

Panda Valley’s Eva Chiu.

The prize for Socially Responsible Takeaway of the Year went to Nu Spice, which raised money for charity and provides cooking classes in local schools. The Socially Responsible Restaurant gong went to Alma, Laurencekirk, which raised more than £500 for charity.